National Quality Forum adopts cost metrics for value-based purchasing

The National Quality Forum in April added four “efficiency” measures that could be combined with quality metrics as part of the Medicare value-based purchasing plan set to start in 2015.

These metrics join four measures previously endorsed in January and represent the multistakeholder group’s first efforts to measure the intensity of medical services that the health system provides, as well as the total costs. The work is being done under contract with the Dept. of Health and Human Services.